I read the Times article to the end. It doesn’t mention how many pedestrians and cyclists were killed after being struck by bicycles.

Times Reader

Nor does it mention how many people were almost hit by bicycles.

Larry Littlefield

I wonder if there is a correlation between pedestrians and cyclists being struck by motor vehicles, and press coverage that leads drivers to believe that they are under siege and have to drive in a way that asserts their “rights” to the whole road the whole time the traffic signals are in their favor, and several second afterward.

The anecdotal evidence says yes.

Perhaps the press could try a series of stories that give the impression that motor vehicle drivers are obligated to drive carefully so as not to strike the most clueless pedestrian or cyclist. The way the press does assert that cyclists need to drive carefully so as not to strike the most clueless pedestrian, or be struck by the most aggressive motor vehicle driver.

The press should try driving around Brooklyn on a weekday evening with a new driver who is trying to learn the stick shift. They’ll hear enough honking and see enough a-hole moves to get a full impression of what is going on.

KR

“The report said a preliminary analysis suggested that the crashes were
concentrated on highways, far removed from many of the areas that have
been the focus of the city’s initiatives.”

I rent a car and drive out of the city 2-3 times a year, this last weekend being one of those times. I can’t believe how fast and aggressive people drive. If I’m going five miles ABOVE the speed limit in the right hand lane, it’s like I’m standing still, drivers are flying by me on the left, probably 10-20+ mph faster than I’m driving. And don’t get me started on the tailgaters, who scream up behind me and sit 6″ from my bumper before jerking around me. Where are the cops? Why isn’t this issue making news? Why isn’t there an outcry regarding crashes under these circumstances, or are highway crashes just status quo?

Elroy

Re: Bay Ridge – Doesn’t a school bus count as mass transit? The bus keeps all those kids from being dropped off/retrieved individually at school by a fleet of street-clogging, polluting cars. Three parking spots is an insignificant price to pay for that, and the neighborhood residents should know it.

Anonymous

@e2ac12ed691ba18136dec77d1c77bf88:disqus Your experience reflects mine almost exactly. I’d swear speeding and tailgating have gotten worse over the last five years alone.

moocow

Yes Larry, well said, thank you.

Joe R.

Some thoughts on the NY Times article in no particular order:

1) Electronic toys seem to be a big part of the problem, so I propose creating dead zones somehow where these devices won’t receive signals. Dead zones would include the entire street except the sidewalks and possibly parking zones. This would keep people from texting while driving or cycling. Dead zones would also include entire intersections. That would keep pedestrians from texting while crossing.

2) We seriously need to reduce the volumes of motor traffic by at least 75%, preferably by 90%. The basic problem is the streets are just too crowded, period, and motor vehicles make the least efficient use of valuable space. Ban curbside parking, charge fees to enter congested areas, make licensing much stricter, don’t allow people to own a car unless they have a place to keep it off the street (Tokyo does this). All these things would drastically reduce the number of motor vehicles on the streets.

3) Get rid of at least 95% of the traffic signals once you reduce traffic volumes. Traffic signals do little for either safety or traffic flow. Most of the time they make things worse. We have traffic signals to allow cars to travel at 30+ mph, and yet thanks to constant red lights traffic seldom averages more than 15 mph. Wouldn’t it make more sense to just have motor traffic only go at 15 or 20 mph, but seldom need to stop? You would get there just as fast, but things would be way safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Station45025

That times story was a classic buried lede. It almost sounds like the NYPD is trying to sabotage the DOTs efforts to improve street safety. Very strange reporting, IMO, bit at least it wasnt just ignored completely. :-/

fj

Climate Silence is a big part of the difficulty moving to rational transportation.